 Poster: A snowHead
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Well the new ligament got its first experience of powder skiing today as 15cm had fallen over night and they'd not pisted anything other than the beginner runs. It was lovely, dry, soft snow... so easy to turn in and a really good confidence builder. Would have refused to have gone near it had it been wet, heavy stuff at this stage, but I'm really pleased as that's another hurdle jumped and my knee has not complained at all!
Last edited by Poster: A snowHead on Tue 22-01-13 16:03; edited 1 time in total
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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I went to 'avon ski centre' yesterday, in the hope of testing out my 'new' knee and my new ski's. Didn't quite go how I thought it would...
It is a dry slope there, and i'd never skied on a dry slope before so that was quite interesting/terrifying. I didn't bother using my ski's, i opted for some 152 hire skis instead of my 173cm fat skis.
In the end I had about 4 runs down the slope, very tentatively and not enjoying it one bit! I found myself only turning right (it was my right knee that was operated on) as I didnt really feel comfortable on the carpet, or transferring my weight to my bad leg. As a result it was a fairly pointless ski, though I at least managed to get down, but man i was not expecting a dry slope to feel like that! It was horrible, kept catching bits of carpet that weren't level with the rest, and having terrifying moments where the ski's just didn't do as I asked them to.. I'm sure 3/4's of it was that I just wasn't confident enough. But i am keen to try on some snow as I think it will be a bit easier. I'm now 5 months and 3 weeks post op, and have decided that I need some renewed vigour on the rehab as I've sort of let myself go a bit of late. But I feel fairly confident that I could ski fairly well by the time my end of march trip to Morzine comes around!
Thanks for the help
Harry
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hazamadcow, good to hear you are on skis, you really need to go back to the basics for the first time, especially if you have never skied on plastic before, as it will really highlight where your edges are and any flaws, It's good to literally go back to snowplough, plough parallel for the first part of your sessions, good luck whatever you decide to practise on.
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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hazamadcow, What gatecrasher, says.
If you are not used to plastic it's not the ideal place to start afresh on ski's after the op. Best see if you can get over to an indoor snow slope if you can.
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thanks guys, yeah I think ill steer clear of the dry slopes for a while but was definitely good to feel an edge again and get back on them for a short while. Back in the gym for a fresh 2 months of rehab i think...
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I injured my knee last week (21/1/13) in Zermatt, so I'm just starting this journey. The local doctor diagnosed torn MCL and ACL. I was on Diclofenac for a week, now taking Ibuprofen. I can walk (with a hinged knee brace), but it's slow - especially going downstairs. GP here referred me to A&E who have booked me in to the local hospital Fracture Clinic next week (6/2/13). I'm also off to see a sports injury physiotherapist this evening.
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HChalkley, I feel your pain! it gets better! Hopefully this thread can help you out as much as it helped me! Just keep icing that bad boy!
Another update for my knee, I was involved in an FA football coaching course today and was doing some drills, the knee felt perfect giving me no problem at all despite sprinting and changing direction. But then the inevitable happened and I changed direction off of my right knee (the recovering one) and I felt/heard a loud pop and my knee just gave way. This sent sickening shivers down me but thank fully no damage seems to have been done. It is sore now and at first it hurt quite a bit, but I dont think ive done any damage. Does anybody know what might have happened? It was the sort of movement that I can imagine causes ACL tears in footballers, but it didn't hurt enough to be a rebreak? Anyway I hope that this hasn't set me back as I need to get on my skis asap!
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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hazamadcow, defo get it checked out! 
HChalkley, good luck with it, hope you get it sorted.
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hazamadcow, I had my knee collapse under me just going the stairs once after my reconstruction it was painful and I was seeing my doctor for something else to asked about if I could have done any more damage. Her words to me were, you know how it felt without the ACL - does it feel like that now when you are walking? My answer was No. How does it now feel walking around?
With me, after that happened I was Speaking to the guys taking the post nasal classes ( this happened after giving birth) it was most likely the relaxin hormone still in my system.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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HChalkley, Good luck with it all. If you'vce not found it, there is a 'consolidated' thread with progress reports from several snowheads who have\are recovering from the op. http://snowheads.com/ski-forum/viewtopic.php?t=91354
hazamadcow, Hope it's OK. You are about 6 months post op ?
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And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
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NickyJ, That was a great response thank you. Yesterday I would have said that it didn't feel anywhere near as bad as when i didn't have an ACL, but this morning the pain is the same as the first few morning after initially doing my ACL and their is some swelling. Terrified would be an understatement.
AndAnotherThing.., Yes I am 6 months and 3 weeks post op.
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hazamadcow, you poor thing - I can imagine how scary it feels, and that probably makes the pain much more noticeable too, which isn't going to help! Have you got an appointment to see someone?
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You know it makes sense.
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hazamadcow, Get it checked out ASAP. Hopefully just some scar tissue breaking up causing the noise, but the pain is deffo not a good sign. I hope things work out well and that you have just overdone it a wee bit.
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Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
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Thanks miranda, and Samerberg Sue,
Took myself to A and E this morning and the triage lady just booked me an appointment with an orthopaedist for tuesday morning. She did the quick test on the knee though and said that all of the ligaments seemed in tact which was a relief. I just hope that the crack was because of an awkward movement. It is stiff and painful today but I can limp about on it. We shall see on tuesday!
Cheers!
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Poster: A snowHead
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hazamadcow, I think I'd rest, ice & elevate it for a day or so, if you can. Hope it's ok.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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hazamadcow, how did you get on this morning?
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
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HChalkley, Good news  ?
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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miranda,Thanks for asking. Sorry for late response! I saw a junior doc at the trauma clinic who did the usual pulling of my tibia and fibia and said that it felt very slack in one position, but very stable in another. He booked me in for an MRI in 6 weeks!! So i said thanks but not thanks and am travelling back down to Somerset to see the surgeon who fixed my knee up on monday, and then I will have an MRI with him on thursday. I'm very nervous I really wasn't expecting to need a scan I thought I might have just over done it a bit but didn't think id done anything serious. We will see, but all I can think about is my skiing trip on the 23rd of March, the thought of not getting on ski's this season is unbearable!
Thanks
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You'll need to Register first of course.
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hazamadcow, Hope it's still all OK and you will be fit for March
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hazamadcow, hopefully the MRI will give some good news. Fingers crossed.
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Thanks guys!
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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hazamadcow, glad you're getting an expert opinion sooner rather than later - it's worth it! Does it feel sore or swollen at the moment?
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It is a little swollen but not really noticeable unless you compare it perfectly with the other knee! It is a bit sore though if i move it about much, but am walking fine and putting pressure on it fine!
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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hazamadcow, well that doesn't sound too bad at all. Good luck and let us know how you get on.
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And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
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Just checking back in here
I have recovered OK over the last couple of months - not quite tap dancing or ice skating yet, but I can walk and have improved hugely the last fortnight. Still carrying a crutch around in public though as having two dodgy MCLs makes Tube steps a little daunting in rush hour!
I'm lined up for surgery on my ACL and MCL in a couple of weeks. Does anyone have any useful tips on "stuff I need" to get by after surgery? I have a cryo cuff and a set of crutches and that's about it. My physio has told me quite a few times that I will be more mobile immediately after surgery than I was after the accident but other people have told me that it will be near on impossible to make a cup of tea and that I'll need a stool in the kitchen to be able to cook etc.
Also, on a scale of 1 - 10, how much pain will I be in the few days after surgery?
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1 . You'll be on happy drugs so very little pain!
(16 years post op fwiw, started to ski 12 year post!)
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You know it makes sense.
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Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
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Update Month 10.
My Surgeon discharged me today after the final check up. He suggested continuing to build strength in the 'bad' leg until it's as strong as the old one and told me not to damage it again !
I was going to book into the physio one last time in the Spring so I'll be sure to do this and get them to measure the respective strength of both legs on their fancy machine. I suspect there will be nothing in it despite the difference in bulk between them but that they both would benefit from some more work.
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Poster: A snowHead
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aussie82, I guess everyone is different but I was off crutches in a few days and was walking around, making copious pots of tea (and therefore also managing to go to the loo a lot without any help etc!). Have you got a walk in shower? I put a plastic garden chair in mine and another one to rest my foot on, gaffer taped a plastic bag round my bandage and so could shower as soon as I got back from hospital. At night, I propped up the bottom of my mattress with sturdy sofa cushions, so that my leg was elevated at night without being propped up by pillows whilst lying on my back (which I found uncomfortable). What was comfortable, though, was - when lying on my side on my good leg - resting the length of my bad leg slightly in front of me, on pillows. I had an Ice Band and a Cyro Cuff - didn't end up using the Cyro Cuff at all - the Ice Band was much, much more convenient.
I was in no pain at all, but I had good drugs 
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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AndAnotherThing.. fab news that you have been discharged! Despite feeling that the strength is the same in both legs, are you still noticing a difference in bulk then?
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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Ok, just measured the circumference of my legs just above the knee thinking they were virtually the same now - still almost an inch difference! Oh well, probably the kick up the bum I needed to get on and do more (er.. not actually done any) leg-specific exercise 
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miranda, yep, there is a visible difference. Will measure later !
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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Thank you everyone, I will take this advice on board
Miranda I don't have a walk-in shower but back in January, apart from a few days early on where I took a casual approach to daily showering, I did manage to get in and out of my shower-over-bath with two dodgy knees by sitting on the end and swinging them in, so I am hopeful I will be ok with a plastic bag taped around my knee. A walk-in shower sounds much easier though!!! Putting sofa cushions under the mattress sounds like a good idea.
I've spent this weekend stocking my freezer with frozen meals, just in case, so hopefully it will be a matter of sitting around feeling sorry for myself for a couple of days, before things improve.
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Hi,
I'm still not sure if I'm going to join this club. No offense but I'm hoping not to. I'm 6 weeks after a fall in which I definitely damaged the MCL, and possibly ACL and/or cartilage. Physio and consultant have been unable to diagnose with physical tests. I got fed-up of waiting for a specialist appointment to come through on the NHS, then probably a month more for the MRI appointment, so went for a private scan yesterday. I should have the results early next week.
I have a brilliant physio and have increased my mobility, flex and extension well, although not as much as he would have expected for a simple MCL injury.
But, I'm really struggling to get the swelling down. As soon as I do the exercises it seems to swell up again. I'm icing every few hours, but it doesn't seem to make much difference. Any advice from your experiences?
thanks
Jane
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janeed, Hope the diagnosis comes through ok.
It may be an idea to ask the advice of your physio. It does seems to be a balancing act between exercise to promote healing while managing the swelling. If the results are due soon perhaps it's best to hold off until you know the nature of the injury.
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Thanks, my fingers are very firmly crossed.
The physio has said the same thing about the balance between exercise and swelling, and has told me the swelling is a sign my knee is doing more than it's happy with. He's advised me to ease back on the exercises a bit, but as soon as I do any it seems to swell, even though it rarely hurts.
Maybe I'm just being impatient.
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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| janeed wrote: |
But, I'm really struggling to get the swelling down. As soon as I do the exercises it seems to swell up again. I'm icing every few hours, but it doesn't seem to make much difference. Any advice from your experiences?
thanks
Jane |
Are you still taking anti-inflammatories (ibuprofen?) My MCLs took a solid 8-9 weeks to settle down - just about anything from standing up too long to overdoing the physio would flare it up. Some nights after work it would just ache and ache. I ended up taking regular daily doses of ibuprofen which helped a lot, plus icing if I went hard at physio, and then around Week 8-9 it was mostly ok. I also didn't get enough flexion until the very end, it was still insufficient at Week 6 but fine by Wk 9.
I had my surgery on my ACL and MCL on Monday. So far it has been very easy going and apart from being very squeamish about needles, I've had no real discomfort at all. I was quite chuffed when I woke up that I could still flex my VMO and quads in the right order (hours of flexing it furtively under the table in boring work meetings seems to have paid off) and have managed to keep my extension. Bending is slower but swelling is still quite pretty significant so hopefully my physio will have advice next week. Daily life tasks are manageable although it's taken me a while to figure out how to shower without getting it wet (the answer is Saran wrap plus duck tape plus Tesco bag on top!). So really not too bad at all.
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Thanks for the reply. Glad to know I'm not alone in this, and that it might be a lot better in a few weeks time.
I am still taking dicofenac, but probably not as regularly as I should. I'm luck as I don't really need it for the pain, and so often forget. Ok, resolution for the week is to take every one.
aussie82, I'm glad to hear your surgery seems to have gone so well. You are a good poster boy/girl for the importance of those pre-hab exercises! Hope your fast progress continues.
Can I ask why your MCL needed surgery? I though the MCL usually doesn't, but maybe that is just if the only problem is the MCL?
My real worry with the shower is getting in it! We have one of those showers over the bath, and I really stuggled at first to bend my leg enough to get over the sides of the bath.
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